20160620 MinutesMayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon
Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel
2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5
Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Steering Committee
on the Convention Center Hotel
6:30 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2016
City Commission Chambers, City Hall
1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach
MEETING MINUTES
In attendance:
Commissioner Ricky Arriola, Chair
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, Vice Chair
Member Jorge Exposito
Member Saul Gross
Member Paul Freeman
Member Debra Leibowitz
Member Leslie Tobin
Jeff Oris, Administration Liaison
Chair Arriola opened the meeting at 6:39 p.m.
Also in attendance:
Maria Ilcheva, Ph.D. , FIU Metropolitan Center
Dario Moreno, FIU Metropolitan Center from FIU Metropolitan Center
Maria Hernandez, Convention Center District Project Director
1. ROLL CALL
2. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: RESIDENT SURVEY – Maria Ilcheva, Ph.D.
FIU Metropolitan Center
Maria Ilcheva stated that at the last meeting it was discussed that a simple poll/survey from an
educational standpoint would be given that contained basic facts within either the introduction or
the questions themselves. Maria Ilcheva advised against providing too much information in the
introduction.
Member Saul Gross suggested that the survey refrain from any suggestive or leading language,
Commissioner Ricky Arriola was in accordance. Gross also recommended that the purpose of the
survey be added as part of the introduction.
Member Debra Leibowitz suggested including that tourism officials recommended a 1000 room
Convention Center Hotel to draw conventions.
Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon
Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel
2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5
Member Saul Gross suggested including “in order for the center to be financially successful it
needs a headquarter hotel adjacent to the center” and to strike “a larger number” since we are
theoretically doing something smaller than the industry has suggested. Gross also suggested
adding at the end after “at an approximate cost of $400 million” a statement that no public
dollars would be used.
Commissioner Ricky Arriola advised that any reference that taxpayer dollars would be used to
fund the hotel be removed from the introduction because it is misleading. Instead it should be
clearly stated that no public dollars will be spent on the building of the Convention Center Hotel.
Member Paul Freeman suggested that the $400 million cost be removed Dario Moreno and other
members of the board were in agreement.
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez suggested that the historical data from March regarding
the outcome of the Convention Center Hotel be removed from the survey.
Member Jorge Exposito indicated that some background should stay in the introduction to show
that the city is reapproaching this in a transparent manner so that voters feels that they are part of
the process. Commissioner Ricky Arriola was in agreement, Dario Moreno stated that a new
introduction will be drafted.
Based on the Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel Draft Survey
1. Member Debra Leibowitz suggested that the words “in support of” in question #1 be
removed. Member Jorge Exposito seconded Member Leslie Tobin’s recommendation of the
change. Member Saul Gross suggested the word regarding replace the phrase “in support of”.
Member Debra Leibowitz recommended that overall, the wording of all the survey questions be
shortened in order to reduce confusion in regards to what is being asked as well as the total
survey time.
2. Maria Ilcheva stated that the reason behind question #2 was to understand what were the
concerns for the residents as well as what aspects of the hotel did they like that made them vote
in favor of it. Chair Ricky Arriola expressed that this questions confirms how they voted and if
they would vote the same way again.
Dario Moreno stated that the order of answer choices will not be uniform for every survey taker
in order to ensure residents are not selecting the same answer choices.
3. Member Paul Freeman suggested that a supplemental traffic answer choice be added to
question #3 which would state “traffic congestion in the City generally”. Commissioner Ricky
Arriola recommended the original traffic answer choice “The traffic congestion it will create” to
reword to say “The traffic congestion it may create “. Final decision was to reword the traffic
answer choice to state potential traffic.
Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon
Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel
2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
Member Jorge Exposito proposed adding a question in regards to a change in the footprint/ land
area of the Convention Center Hotel on the survey to address height and other issues. Member
Saul Gross and Commissioner Ricky Arriola seconded Member Jorge Exposito’s proposal.
Dario Moreno stated that the methodology behind the answer choice of “less likely to support” in
questions 4-10 was to capture the hard “no” voting residents.
4. It was declared that question #4 will remain as originally stated since the size of the hotel
was originally introduced in the introduction of the survey.
5. A majority of the board members voted in favor of question #5 remaining on the survey,
Member Saul Gross recommended that the word “limit” be removed from the survey and
location markers such as Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue be reference so that residents
are aware of which Clock Tower is being referenced.
6. Dario Moreno from FIU suggested that the phrase in question #6 “where a park is
planned” be removed from the question because it bias’ the question, Commissioner Kristen
Rosen Gonzalez agreed.
7. Member Saul Gross suggested question #7 reference a world-class architect would design
the hotel. Member Jorge Exposito stated that based on a memo from the staff, if the hotel were
privately financed changes to the design would not be permitted after it has been approved. Dario
Moreno recommended a question in regards if the resident would if favor of or against a hotel
design executed by a world-class architect be added to the survey, this notion was seconded by
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez. Question #7 will remain as originally stated.
8. Chair Ricky Arriola suggested for question #8 the residents be aware if they voted in
support of this, this would mean that the Jackie Gleason Theater would be demolished. Maria
Ilcheva recommended better terminology for the word demolished. Chair Ricky Arriola
suggested the term renovate.
9. Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez and Member Saul Gross both expressed that
question #9 be removed from the survey because it was suggestive and read like a push poll.
10. Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez suggested that question #10, #11 and #12 be
taken out because it read like a push poll questions as well. She also suggested the word mitigate
be used to discuss the traffic issues.Per Dario Moreno’s, suggestion the committee unanimously
agreed to include questions #9 and #10 as part of question # 13.
Chair Arriola and Member Saul Gross suggested using language like “ in order to accommodate
the concerns of residents”.
Once the survey is ready, Chair Ricky Arriola is giving the committee 24 to 48 hours to respond.
3. PRESENTATION: P-LOT 32 - Maria Hernandez, Project Director, Convention Center
District
Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon
Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel
2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5
Derived from the Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel Site options meeting on June 11, 2014
Decision required:
HQ hotel site locations can impact Convention Center and parking planning
Need Commission preference on hotel site
Template Program:
800 rooms
70,00 sq. ft ballroom/meeting
800 parking spaces
Per current code
0.5 spaces per room more typical and could reduce height
Option 1: P-Lot
Large site
225 feet height
Severely limits park area
Not compatible with Meridian neighbors
Option 2: City Hall
Smaller site
275 feet height
City Hall would need to be replaced first
Delays/Complications hotel approvals
Option 3: 17th Street Garage
Very tall
325 feet height
Loss of parking during construction
Public (parking) – Private (hotel) ownership required
Allows Soundscape - P-Lot park Connection
Option 4: Behind the Fillmore
Accommodates hotels, meeting space and hotel parking
225 feet height
Great connection to the Convention Center
Requires removal of theater practice space
Theater loading dock can remain
Does not allow for Soundscape P-Lot park Connection
Timing
Maintain Focus on Convention Center
Solidify Convention Center funding
Solicit Hotel Developer
o Spring 2015
o Must negotiate fill lase prior to referendum
Maria Hernandez stated Based on all the information presented to the Commission, they selected
Option 4: Behind the Fillmore on June 2014. Another advantage of the location behind the
Fillmore was that, the Fillmore would be able to stay in operation and it permits use of the P-lot
for public park purposes. To date, 100 million dollars has been spent on this project.
Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon
Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel
2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5
Maria Hernandez stated that an option for the 17th street garage to put mini garages off of
Lincoln Road so the building can be lower if the hotel were to be built there. The garage will be
demolished at some point because of its issues.
Chair Ricky Arriola doesn’t believe the P-Lot is a viable option because the need for buffer
zones.
Member Saul Gross believes widening 18th street should be an option to reduce traffic on 17th
street.
Member Jorge Exposito made the following motion:
MOTION: TO NOT CONSIDER THE USE OF THE P-LOT FOR A
CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL
Motion was seconded by: Member Paul Freeman
Additional discussion ensued regarding the use of the P-Lot and the purpose of the Committee
and direction of its future meetings. The Committee did not return to the motion on the floor and
did not call the question to a vote.
4. PUBLIC INPUT
There was no additional public input at this time.
5. GENERAL DISCUSSION
Member Saul Gross suggested a future meeting to discuss the following topics: height and
compatibility as well as traffic and mitigation ideas.
Resident Tonya Bhatt suggested having a meeting regarding reformulating the Jackie Gleason
and bringing in experts to discuss related options.
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez suggested that an email be sent to Miami Beach resident
regarding the topics that will be discuss at upcoming meeting to get more of the publics meets.
Chair Ricky Arriola stated that the next meeting will be on height and the Jackie Gleason.
6. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 pm.
MINUTES APPROVED AT 8/29/16 MEETING